Thatta: SCF, PPAF emphasise climate-induced displacement, livelihood losses

HYDERABAD: Climate-induced displacement, livelihood losses, poverty, food insecurity, and growing social stress are increasing the vulnerability of women to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in District Thatta. These findings were shared at a stakeholder moot organized by Sindh Community Foundation (SCF), with the support of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Thatta, at Darbar Hall. The event brought together government officials, civil society organizations, development partners, human rights experts, advocates, and service providers to discuss the report, Beyond the Climate Disaster: Climate-Induced Vulnerability and Gender-Based Violence—Findings from District Thatta, July 2023–July 2025. The report was authored by human rights expert Iqbal Ahmed Detho and published by SCF. Detho observed that GBV data remained fragmented across institutions, preventing authorities from assessing the true scale of violence and developing coordinated responses. He stressed that the existing referral system remained weak, limiting survivors’ access to healthcare, legal aid, psychosocial counselling, police protection, and shelter services. He called for establishing a One-Stop Facilitation Centre (OSFC) in Thatta. The proposed centre would bring together police, medico-legal officers, child protection authorities, lawyers, prosecutors, judicial representatives, psychosocial counsellors, and referral service providers under one roof. It would enable survivors to receive immediate medical care, legal assistance, protection, counselling, and case management without visiting multiple institutions. Imran-ul-Haq, Additional Deputy Commissioner-I, Thatta, acknowledged the challenges government departments face in maintaining reliable GBV data. He emphasized strengthening institutional capacities, interdepartmental coordination, and standardized reporting systems for effective response. Javed Hussain, Executive Director of SCF, said recurring floods, displacement, livelihood losses, rising temperatures, and increasing poverty had intensified risks for women and children. He explained that extreme heat and repeated climate-related disasters contribute to economic pressure, psychological stress, and household conflict, creating conditions in which violence may increase. He proposed establishing a district administration-led, multi-stakeholder platform and a GBV Response Data Management Dashboard to support evidence-based planning, case tracking, coordination, and accountability. The moot recommended establishing an OSFC, strengthening referral pathways, developing a centralized GBV case-management system, engaging communities, and integrating GBV prevention into climate resilience and disaster risk reduction programmes. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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